Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-10-06
UNCLE EPH'S ESCAPE.
He Gives His Own Version Of the
Affair.

About four miles east of the town l
live in is the old Groot place, beauti-
full farm of five or six hundred acres
and when was a growing girl used
to spend weeks and weeks there with
Mary Groot. I did every thing she
did-rose at daybreak, fed young
lambs and calves on bottle, helped
take care of the chickens and turkeys,
caught the roam mare and harnessed
her to the buggy if any body wanted
to drive to town, and even went
to the district school for awhile. The
Groots, who were not connections of
our family in the remotest degree,
were all uncles and aunts and cousins
to me, and the farm was second
home. My pony and l were always
welcome there, and it was, perhaps,
partly owing to my aversion to all
schools. except the poor little district
school, that l was sent to Europe to
have some education crammed down
my throat.
When l came home, three years aft
err, on the very first spare day l drove
out to the Groot farm. telling my
mother beforehand that l would spend
the night if l was invited. A certain
letter of Mary's, which had remained
unanswered, lay heavy on my con.
science; otherwise l should have
packed sachel and gone to the farm
with the intention of spending sew
eral days. AS I logged along thu
turnpike, driving the pony, that, lik'
me, had grown sedate, forgot tina
my dress was no longer up to the top
of my boots until the toll-gate cam,
in sight. In former days it had giver
me great pleasure to send the pony
through the gate Oh d run, and a h:tl
fat, rcd-faced man would bounce on
and shake his fist after me, but now
when sad-looking woman stretche,
forth her hand, l meekly dropped tn
pennies into it and made q remarl
about the weather. Mad youth ha,
fled forever. On we logged, the pom,
and l, up the long brick-yard hill
then turned off into narrow, wind
ing road. passing tho chool-house
which was shut up so tight that
seemed as if it could never be opene
again. was growing very melau
choly, and the November day suite
my mood, for the sky was lead-col
ored, and Respondent little win
made the naked branches of the tree
creak like old mems joints. Their
had been light fall of snow, an
here and there a white patch lay il
the hollows, bringing out the brow
tone of the fields.
BY the time had reached the farr
i had convinced myself that all tn
Groots were dead, and that their hous
and barns were in ruins; but mas
of smoke curling up cut of stout re
chimney raised my dropping spirits
and when very old dog trotted to tn
gate, / recognized Prin ce, and he acte
as if he recognized me. There wa
not soul stirring. l drove tn
pony under the shed, tied and blanl
eted him and then went toward tn
house, Prince following me. The hous
is built of stone, and the roof slope
down so steep that the tiny window
under the caves have the demure loo
of eyes shaded by long lashes The
twinkled at me; they invited me to ell
ter, and tapped lightly at the sittin!
room door, which was opened at ono
by Uncle Eph Groot He was tai
spare. bald old man, who shaves thr'
times week. Sundays, "Wednesday
and Fridays, and as this was Tuesda
there was a silvery growth of stubb
on chin, cheeks and upper lip. 1 kne
him at once, although he looked O
and i'll, but he stared at me blankly.
II didn't hear you drive in the var
ma'am," he said. in a mild, apologet
tone. Then he put on his spectacle
"Why, it's you, Janet" he exclaime'
"Why, come inl heard you was e,
pected back this fall, and here you b
but there amt soul home but me an
Miranda, all the rest having gone ov'
t. Nine Partners Corners to funeF
cousin Silas' wife's funeral, and